The pilot who crashed his plane on a field on the Ruilverkavelingsweg in Drimmelen on Saturday cannot be blamed. This has emerged from an investigation by the Aviation Supervision team, a police spokeswoman said on Monday afternoon.
The plane, with pilot Willem Ketelaars from Bosschenhoofd as the only occupant, landed upside down on the field near Drimmelen on Saturday morning around a quarter to twelve. The pilot escaped unhurt in the crash.
‘I ended up upside down in the seatbelts’
“An engine failure occurred when I flew between Drimmelen and the Biesbosch”, pilot Willem explained on Saturday afternoon. “The malfunction was such that I could no longer reach Seppe Airport, where I had taken off. There were bangs from the engine, which lost all power. Then I had no other option than to make an emergency landing immediately.”
He quickly informed air traffic control of the impending emergency landing. The fact that the plane flipped over was, according to Willem – who has ten years of flying experience – due to the loose sand. “As soon as I hit the ground with the wheels, the plane suddenly jerked forward. I ended up upside down in the seat belts. Then I was able to climb out of the plane. I escaped with a fright.”
Recommendations
The Dutch Safety Board will probably investigate whether recommendations are needed to improve aviation safety following the crash in Drimmelen.
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